mains units and ip protection..

[DAVE WILLIAMSON]

Heres another tricky one, what happens to the IP rating on a new mk mains unit that you have just installed,and the knockout you have just opened is too big for the cable you are putting in,and a small gap is now left open,only small but there it is,is it ok to mastic the hole,or does the IP rating alter. Just a thought as you see loads of mains units with small entry holes next to the cables going in...

 

[Steve1412]

Will have to blow the dust off my IP2x definitions...as long as you cant stick you british standard finger in it alls well. Or be hyper electrician and put compression glands on all cables.

 

[claire_r]

if its a round hole will a rubber grommet do? just nip out some of the rubber to slip the cable through?

 

[gaffer]

As soon as your make a hole in the unit the IP rating goes out the window,then the rating is only as good as the way you seal that hole up again.Get some glands to suit as mastic is not really a permanent seal,how many old outside lights have you been to and the mastic has let go?.

 

[markythesparky]

I presume that the hole is at the top of the board.

Why not install a length of plastic trunking along the whole length. cables can come in from the side of the trunking which allows a more liberal IP rating.

 

[Darkwood]

drill new hole and you can usually get ip rated bungs from places like rs components to cover your little mistake.

 

[roukel01]

I've just had my ELECSA assesment this morning and took him to a board change, I too had knocked a few knockouts out of a sentry unit at the top (because it was the only way I could get some existing cables to reach) and was worried about the IP rating, and so I placed a piece of YT2 trunking accross the top to form a barrier, the assesor thought it was fine.

Any enclosure you fit must conform to IP ratings (i.e IP2X for the sides and bottom and IP4X for horizontal top surfaces)